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Are Nursing Homes in the Bible?

/ pastorpete51 / Leave a comment

When Jesus walked the earth there were no nursing homes, but in His day, the pool of Bethesda was similar to a long term care facility in some ways. Let’s just peek in to a scene from His visit there.

One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?”    John 5:5-6

As Jesus entered Jerusalem to attend one of the religious holidays, he chose to pay a visit to someone in need. You might compare this to making a detour on the way to a Thanksgiving dinner to see someone in the nursing home. You see that day almost everyone was headed out to sit down to a special dinner with friends or family, everyone that is except for the crowd at the Bethesda pool. There people waited in hope of a miracle.

Nursing homes are filled with people just like those folks. The man that Jesus came to see had been waiting and dreaming of a miracle for 38 years. In fact this man didn’t even know who Jesus was. Jesus didn’t show up to see a show, or to bring a reward for good behavior. Jesus came because He knew how long this man had waited. He came to show mercy.  Nursing home ministry is about showing God’s mercy to people just like that man. When we show God’s mercy to people Jesus comes, because His promise is that if just two or three gather in His name He will be there. Now imagine the possibilities if we sing together!

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New Beginnings

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In Long Term care ministry it is time for New Beginnings. Who is willing to be a part?

pastorpete51's avatarWalking With Lambs

The change in name of this web-site does not mean we are going to stop sharing about nursing home ministry but rather that there will now be included different types of similar outreach to.  Right now the entire traditional nursing home as an institution is undergoing change at an amazing pace. Each year new places are opening offering  specialized facilities such as assisted living; memory care along with skilled nursing. While some assisted living communities are beginning to resemble 5 star resorts while others are far more plain and cater to those with mental and physical disabilities.

What these changes mean for those of us who are volunteering is that we need to adapt and prepare for the new and more complex world of long term care. Someone once told me that during times of change it is important to know that what is happening is not what is going…

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Apple Harvest

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“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:5 NKJV

As a New Englander I don’t have much experience with grape vines. But I do remember that in the winter we used to prune apple trees.

First to go was the sucker growth. These long spindly sprouts looked healthy but in reality, suckers just stole strength from the better branches and in return yielded nothing but leaves.

Next we sought out the dead branches. Often these were hidden by the healthy ones and each part of the tree needed to be examined and have the dead wood cleared to open a pathway for sunlight and air.

Last of all we carefully cut away any diseased limbs. Fireblight was the usual culprit and could only be safely removed in the coldest season. That is why we chose winter so as not to spread it to the rest of the tree.

What remained behind waiting for spring was the good fruit bearing wood. To the casual observer the trees looked savagely treated. But the orchard owner could see the beautiful but still dormant fruit spurs just waiting for their chance to give the sweetest and most abundant harvest at the right time.

Without him we can do nothing. But pruned and shaped to the master’s design he promises we will one day yield a mighty harvest!